New management ahead for House cafeteria in the State Capitol

House Speaker Jim Tucker, R-Algiers, said last week he hopes to have the House cafeteria in the State Capitol back in operation no later than March 1.

House Speaker Jim Tucker

The public cafeteria has been closed since Jan. 1, when Jim Leming, its 74-year-old operator, died of cancer. Leming had the agreement to operate the cafeteria since 1982. His funeral was Monday.

Tucker said that local and national contractors have expressed interest in operating the cafeteria, a beehive of activity for breakfast and lunch during legislative sessions. Tucker said he may survey employees of the Capitol to see what they want in a food outlet, including possible upgrades in service and menu items, before bringing in another operator.

"We will look at where our options are," he said. "We will not make a hurried decision." But he said he wants to have the facility serving food again before the Legislature opens its special session on redistricting, which is set to run from March 20 to April 13. The regular session begins April 25 and runs through June 23.